Facebook has decided to branch out their social media platform to business. A move which seems like they’re looking to take on platforms such as Slack and Microsoft’s Skype communication system.

According to the company, they’ve had an internal version of the app to help run the company for years. After seeing how well it connected friends and family, they’ve realised that it can do the same with coworkers.

After having tested a version of Facebook for the workplace with select organisations over a year ago, there are now more than 1,000 organisations around the world using Workplace (formerly known as Facebook at Work). People have created nearly 100,000 groups and the top five countries using Workplace are India, the US, Norway, UK and France.

After seeing “exciting levels of engagement”, the company has announced that Workplace will now be available to any company or organisation that wants to use it.

For Everyone, Around the World

The workplace is about more than just communicating between desks within the walls of an office. Some people spend their entire workday on the go, on their mobile phone. Others spend all day out in the field, or on the road. Large multinational companies like Danone, Starbucks and Booking.com, international nonprofits such as Oxfam, and regional leaders such as YES Bank in India and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore have all embraced Workplace. People work in different ways, around the world, and Workplace’s mission is to help them stay connected.

The Best of Facebook, Plus New Features

Facebook says that they’ve brought the best of their platform to the workplace. Whether it’s basic infrastructure such as News Feed, or the ability to create and share in Groups or via chat. Or useful features such as Live, Reactions, Search and Trending posts. This means you can chat with a colleague across the world in real time, host a virtual brainstorm in a Group, or follow along with your CEO’s presentation on Facebook Live.

They’ve also built Workplace-only features that companies can benefit from such as a dashboard with analytics and integrations with a single sign-on. This to identity providers that allow companies to integrate Workplace, more easily, with their existing IT systems.

Facebook has also announced Multi-Company Groups. These are shared spaces that allow employees from different organisations to work together. This in order to extend collaboration beyond your company in a safe and secure way. These are not currently available, however, and will be rolling out in the coming weeks.

Scaling The Solution: Introducing The Workplace Partner Program

To get companies started with Workplace, there is a Workplace Partner Program available. This is a group of technology and professional service organisations, such as Deloitte, who will work with Facebook to bring Workplace to even more businesses across the globe. This means that companies will have more ways to access Workplace. Either by working with Facebook’s teams directly or via their approved and trained partners.

Facebook says that Workplace will be priced competitively and that companies only pay for people who are actively using the product (pricing information can be found here).

The new global and mobile workplace isn’t about closed-door meetings or keeping people separated by title, department or geography. Organizations are stronger and more productive when everyone comes together. For more information, or to get Workplace by Facebook for your company, visit workplace.fb.com. Or, stay in touch on our Facebook Page at facebook.com/workplace.